Tuesday, 29 March 2011

Okay, I give in - I promised myself I wasn't going to watch these bonus episodes of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai until they came out on Blu-Ray, pixel whore and High Definition junkie that I am, but the release of episode thirteen has seen me do a u-turn and check out the two bonus episodes now available, starting with this "true route" alternative version of episode twelve.

If you've seen the original, TV broadcast version of the episode then most of this instalment will hold no surprises for you - Kirino acts in a worryingly friendly manner towards her brother before requesting what she claims is her final act of life counselling for her, that being to queue up for a midnight launch of a new eroge title so that she can play it straight away. Kyousuke duly does this, and even moves hell and high water (well, he rides an embarrassing bicycle) to get back to her with the game, and after making him sit through the completion of one of the game's routes she pulls out one final secret from her closet... no, not that game (cue one of the episode's funnier exchanges), but some mementos from her childhood.

It's here when things get very different from the TV broadcast episode - rather than changing her mind, Kirino does jet off to study in America, and what's more she doesn't even tell Kyousuke that she's departing, leaving him to lament her empty room. Fast forward a little and Kyousuke is, by all accounts, a "changed man" (according to Manami), but whose this starting at his school as a new school year begins? Needless to say, a very familiar face is about to become Kyousuke's junior...

There really isn't a lot I can add in terms of commentary to this episode - it is what it is to all intents and purposes; an episode with some great funny moments (not least Kyousuke and his friend's conversation in the queue for the midnight eroge launches), but with an ending designed to set up the bonus episodes to come. Speaking of which, I'd better get onto episode thirteen, right?